Response to group sex scandal a ‘disgrace’

Australian football great Robbie Slater has lashed out after four Olyroos were suspended for "unprofessional conduct" that will see them miss the 2020 Olympics.

Lachlan Wales, Nathaniel Atkinson and Brandon Wilson will not feature at next year's Games if Australia qualifies while rising star Riley McGree will play no further part in the Olyroos' qualifiers after they were suspended for an incident involving a woman.

In April this year, a woman complained about the quartet - who were in Cambodia with the Olyroos for the AFC Under-23 championship qualifying tournament - leading to a lengthy Football Federation Australia (FFA) investigation.

McGree has been banned from international duty until April 1 next year while Wales, Atkinson and Wilson were hit with longer bans through to August 10, meaning that trio cannot be selected for the Tokyo Olympics.

All four players will also be suspended for January's AFC under-23 championships, the qualifying tournament for the Olympics.

The Daily Telegraph reports the quartet broke curfew. According to the publication, one of the stars invited a woman back to the team hotel after connecting on dating app Tinder, before she had consensual sex with the players.

There is no suggestion of any assault and while the woman reportedly withdrew her complaint to the Australian Embassy about how she was treated after the encounter, FFA still conducted an investigation into the matter.

Speaking on the Big Sports Breakfast this morning, Slater said it was an "absolute disgrace" the four players had received such harsh penalties.

"I want to know, and the whole football fraternity should want to know, who has made this disgraceful decision to ban the players effectively for the Olympic Games if they qualify," Slater said.

"I want to know who made this decision - apparently an independent committee. Why the hell you would need an independent committee for a start to investigate (is beyond me).

"Put this back in perspective - this happened back in Cambodia. The guys have broken curfew, they're guilty of breaking curfew.

"Every Socceroo in the history of Socceroos would have been banned if that was the case.

"I feel so sorry for those kids, or young adults … that they're going to miss an Olympic Games, if we qualify."

Riley McGree will miss the rest of the Olyroos’ Olympic qualifiers.

Slater said the Under-23 national team now faces a much tougher task to qualify for the Games and questioned why the investigation took so long to be concluded.

"I just can't believe it," Slater said. "Why would it take so long?

"Spare me, give me a break. The guys have made a mistake, yes, they've done the wrong thing but the punishment fitting the crime? I don't think so and I don't think many other people who are reasonable would think the same thing."

McGree has had a stellar start to his return to Adelaide United, scoring four goals in his first five A-League games but will now be ineligible for Socceroos consideration, including for World Cup qualifiers against Nepal and Kuwait in March, until his ban expires.

McGree, Atkinson, Wales and Wilson did not travel with the Olyroos to China on November 9 as sanctions were pending.

The FFA said the four players would also participate in education courses and counselling as a result of the code of conduct breach.

"These sanctions are commensurate to the nature of the breaches of the National Code of Conduct which is in place to safeguard both the players and the reputation of Australian football," FFA chairman Chris Nikou said in a statement.

"Upholding our commitment to respect and responsibility cannot be compromised. Our game is built on equality, inclusivity and respect and these are values that we will continue to uphold.

"The players have understood the gravity of their actions and have positively commenced respectful relationship programs that will ensure they appreciate these values in the future."

The players can appeal FFA's ruling to the independent FFA disciplinary and ethics committee.

The players' union, Professional Footballers Australia, said it would provide support to all four players.

"The PFA has, and continues to, represent the players throughout this process and will work closely with each of them on their options, including appealing the sanctions imposed," the PFA said in a statement.

"From the outset the players have accepted responsibility, undertaken respectful relationships counselling and at all times acted cooperatively with the FFA during the investigation."